With school out and the sun shining, that over-the-summer homework is the last thing on your mind. Your summer’s already stuffed with plans, and who really wants to use brainpower on break? But before you let summer assignments stress you out, or (even worse) forget them, tackle ‘em with these HW-busting tips:

Get it over with

There’s nothing worse than pulling an all-nighter before the first day of school. You won’t do well if you’re rushing through, and there’s no way you’ll be able to wake up in time to create a fab first-day look tomorrow. So instead of turning your summer HW into a cramming crisis, do it ASAP. If possible, try to finish up before August rolls around.

Set up a schedule

Make a plan- and not just in your head. Find a cute, bright calendar and decorate it with doodles, glitter, and of course your HW. Skip all the stress by splitting up tasks evenly over a few weeks or days, depending on how long the job will take. Be sure to include chill days for quality time with fam and friends, or just for some classic poolside relaxation. By taking on a little bit each day, you’ll get the work done without getting overwhelmed.

Make it count

Reading an old book or finishing that thick math packet may not seem like a good use of your precious summer time, but believe it or not, this HW does matter! Practice really makes perfect when it comes to your brain, and taking a break from learning will make it harder to jump back in next fall. Realize that all these annoying assignments actually help you, and you’ll be way more motivated to knock ‘em out.